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Night cramps

(39 Posts)
ExDancer Tue 21-Jul-26 20:47:48

I'm sure there must be threads about this, but I can't find them.
I'm woken up every single night with agonising muscle cramps in both calves so I hardly dare move in case they get worse. It really is distressing.
Its hardly worth an appointment with my go, but when i asked the nurse all she could suggest was I drink more water.
Apart from putting potatoes and bars of soap in my bed does anyone have any sensible suggestions to help?

IWasFirstClarinet Thu 23-Jul-26 15:56:16

I stand facing a wall, a couple of feet back from it with one foot by the wall and pointing at it. The other leg is straight out behind me, pointing forward. Then I lean into the wall and hold for around 10 seconds. I change over and repeat for the other leg. This stretches the calf muscles and always gets rid of my cramp.
I do also take magnesium and drink tonic water - which may or may not help!

sundowngirl Thu 23-Jul-26 16:52:10

I read somewhere to put salt on your tongue when you get cramp and it disappears. I was very sceptical but I tried it and it works! Now my husband and I keep salt on our bedside cabinet all the time.
Give it a try

Gwyllt Thu 23-Jul-26 16:54:10

I get cramp occasionally and found magnesium helps. But to add to the old wives tales I have also found zinc helps. Can’t remember why I tried it or perhaps it was coincidentall.

Greciangirl Thu 23-Jul-26 16:54:12

I had Quinine tablets prescribed by gp for restless legs at night.

It seemed to be worse during the heatwave we’ve just had recently.

Anyway, they worked.
I don’t take them every night. Just occasionally.

valdali Thu 23-Jul-26 17:00:46

Fatoldlady

Lots of "old wives tales" about cures for cramp! I often get it, in any and every muscle possible it seems. Calf cramp is easy, out of bed, foot flat on the floor - gone. The absolute worst is the adductor (inner thigh) so very hard to stretch out. I once had cramp in both adductors and fainted from the extreme pain. Even in one it is excruciating. I'm currently trying to make sure I stay well hydrated, and as I sweat loads in the heat, I'm having electrolyte drinks too.

I'm not surprised you fainted - cramp in even your calves is excrutiating. Make yourself stretch out that calf - foot flat to the floor - I had this as a child & Mum told me to do this & it always works, regardless of age (although I get soreness after now which I didn't at 6).
Quinine is probably the best to try - works for the people I know- can be prescribed via a phone to GP so why do you need to see them? Nothing that can be gained in this scenario from an examination.
Mg actually really helps my Restless Legs (which I don't mind personally, being a deep sleeper, but it makes my allergy fatigue / muscle aches much worse when it's persistent).

Bestgrammaever Thu 23-Jul-26 23:32:55

Potassium and magnesium seems to work the best. But make sure you aren't dehydrated as well.

sukie Fri 24-Jul-26 02:01:28

I've suffered from this as well and maybe five years ago, after reading about it here on GN, I started taking magnesium in the evenings. I swear by it now and won't be without it. I take 250mg of Magnesium Lysinate Glycinate & Magnesium Malate which I purchase on Amazon. But when I was dealing with the cramps, I noticed that dehydration, chocolate and even the occasional glass of wine all seemed to make them worse. Good luck.

Abcdefg Fri 24-Jul-26 08:35:25

I was on a daily high dose of quinine and still getting cramps got one of those revive vibrating plates and haven't taken meds for over two years. Get an occasional cramp and then use the vibrating plate again for a couple of days and it stops again.

BlueBelle Fri 24-Jul-26 08:45:29

Please try these they are wonderful I get dreadful cramps in places you can’t bend it out off, like the shin bone, the sides of my legs etc etc. My grandson who does a lot of endurance sports put me on to them. I had no expectations, but they are fantastic and the cramp starts to go almost immediately.
I get them from H and B high street I m sure there are other outlets, they are a couple of pound if that, I ll put a pic up they come in orange or lemon flavour
I can’t praise them enough I no longer trot round the bedroom, crying in pain trying to bend my legs in all sorts of directions.

ExDancer Wed 29-Jul-26 09:52:19

They look interesting BlueBelle I'll pop into H&B next time I'm in town.

midgey Wed 29-Jul-26 10:24:41

I realise this has been mentioned before but drinking more water can really help. Sometimes, especially in hot weather, we are dehydrated without realising.

Bellasnana Wed 29-Jul-26 10:26:04

Grandmotherto8

Footballers drink pickle juice to recover from cramp.

Tennis players do too. I find eating four small pickles every evening and drinking a sip or two of the salty liquid they are in has completely eliminated the cramps I suffered from regularly.

fancythat Wed 29-Jul-26 10:32:02

Milk.

I up my milk intake as soon as that happens.